To Jobim with Love

Product Notes

In the early 60's I was playing piano in the band at the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico. The leader was saxophonist Charlie Rodrigues. Charlie had an uncle in Brazil from whom he received recordings of a whole new bag of music-the Bossa Nova. This music had nothing in common with the Latin music of the era. The haunting melodies seemed to float on top of an infectious but subtle beat and jazz harmonies. We played these songs every night and both the guys in the band and the guests loved them. Later the Getz/Gilberto album came out and achieved worldwide popularity. Jao Gilberto is credited as the founder of Bossa Nova. I saw him perform at the Roxy in LA in the 70's. He came on stage wearing a white shirt and black pants with a follow spot and seduced the audience with only his guitar and soft voice both of which seemed to be coming from a different time zone. By far the most prolific composer of Bossa Nova was Antonio Carlos Jobim. BMI credits him with 437 songs. His more serious compositions are available on the album 'Symphonic Jobim'. He epitomizes the best of Brazilian music as George Gershwin and Duke Ellington epitomize American music. 10 of the 15 songs on this Album are by Jobim. 'To Jobim with Love' is my humble tribute to him. Vocals on 'One NoteSamba' and 'Somebody's Bossa' are by Valli Scavelli. The rest are piano and rhythm. I have yet to play a club date where the band did not play ' Girl from Ipanema' at some time during the evening. It is one of the most requested songs of all time. What a great legacy Jobim left for the world. Don Baaska.

In the early 60's I was playing piano in the band at the Dorado Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico. The leader was saxophonist Charlie Rodrigues. Charlie had an uncle in Brazil from whom he received recordings of a whole new bag of music-the Bossa Nova. This music had nothing in common with the Latin music of the era. The haunting melodies seemed to float on top of an infectious but subtle beat and jazz harmonies. We played these songs every night and both the guys in the band and the guests loved them. Later the Getz/Gilberto album came out and achieved worldwide popularity. Jao Gilberto is credited as the founder of Bossa Nova. I saw him perform at the Roxy in LA in the 70's. He came on stage wearing a white shirt and black pants with a follow spot and seduced the audience with only his guitar and soft voice both of which seemed to be coming from a different time zone. By far the most prolific composer of Bossa Nova was Antonio Carlos Jobim. BMI credits him with 437 songs. His more serious compositions are available on the album 'Symphonic Jobim'. He epitomizes the best of Brazilian music as George Gershwin and Duke Ellington epitomize American music. 10 of the 15 songs on this Album are by Jobim. 'To Jobim with Love' is my humble tribute to him. Vocals on 'One NoteSamba' and 'Somebody's Bossa' are by Valli Scavelli. The rest are piano and rhythm. I have yet to play a club date where the band did not play ' Girl from Ipanema' at some time during the evening. It is one of the most requested songs of all time. What a great legacy Jobim left for the world. Don Baaska.